Do DVD players use VCD directory data when playing?

[BelfegorX]

Hi,


I have a question: As everyone knows on VCD/SVCD there are folders containing many information about the VCD/SVCD. For example in VCD dir you have the entries.vcd where the start of each Movie (track2.. trackN) is written. Could anyone tell me (or send good links with this information) if standalone players use those information while playing the VCD/SVCD , or they just use the TOC information to play the VCD/SVCD.


--regards

[vitualis]

Yes, stand alone players do use this information, but they don't "read the file" as such. This information is actually in predefined sectors on the disc and the "file" is simple a filesystem map of this data.

Regards.

[BelfegorX]

Yes, I know that it doesn't look for certain files - it simply reads the data in its own VCD specified way. So according to your answer when I will modify the entries.vcd file and change the start of track one from 12 s to 18 s it should start playing at 00:18:00 not 00:12:00 ?
I've done such test and it still played from 00:12:00 - what can be the problem?

Also can I find the exact specification of all of the vcd files (the structre - the same that you can get from the internet the ISO 9660 FS specs and write your own iso making app).


Thanks

[vitualis]

The problem is that you can't just "edit" the file because that would actually involve editing data in a disc image.

I recommend that you download VCDImager (the backend to VCDEasy). VCDImager is a tool that compiles and decompiles VCD and SVCD images. It also has pretty good documentation. As a last resort, you can look at the source code to work out what's going on. Unfortunately, the official documentation (White Book) by Philips requires you to pay them and to sign a NDA I think so you're not going to get it anywhere else. Most of the stuff worked out in VCDImager was from pre-existing known information that was free on the net and by reverse engineering known good VCDs.

Good luck.

Best regards.

[BelfegorX]

Yes, I want to involve in the disc - that is my idea (intend)!

Also I will try the VCDImager as you have told me. Will try to see what does this documentation have.

Thanks for help.